Key for vehicle and drunken driving preventing device

Abstract

The object of the invention is to provide a vehicle key capable of preventing the drunken driving. The vehicle key comprises a key portion with the forward end portion thereof insertable into the key hole of the vehicle such as a train, a motor bike and an automobile, a holder portion arranged at the base end portion of the key portion, a projection member projected from the holder portion along the key portion, a spring for urging the projection member in the direction of projection, a breath component detection means for detecting the alcohol contained in the breath of the user, and a lock mechanism for locking the projection member in a projected state in accordance with the detection result of the breath component detection means.

1. A vehicle key for outputting a start permit signal to a vehicle including a train, a motorbike, and an automobile, and for either starting a prime mover of the vehicle or setting the prime mover in a ready state for starting, the key comprising:
 a signal output means for outputting the start permit signal, the start permit signal being a radio wave or infrared light signal; 
 a breath component detection means for detecting at least one of alcohol and drug contained in a breath of a user; and 
 a prevention means for preventing the start permit signal outputted by the signal output means from arriving at the vehicle in accordance with a detection result of the breath component detection means, wherein 
 the prevention means includes: 
 a shield means for shielding the start permit signal that is outputted from the signal output means; and 
 a drive means for moving the shield means from a shield position, at which the start permit signal of the signal output means is shielded, to an evacuation position, at which the start permit signal fails to be shielded, in accordance with the detection result of the breath component detection means. 
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle key according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the breath component detection means includes: 
 at least one of an alcohol sensor and a drug sensor; and 
 a control unit for controlling an on/off operation of one of the signal output means and the drive means, in accordance with an output signal of the at least one of the alcohol sensor and the drug sensor, thereby functioning as the prevention means. 
 
     
     
       3. The vehicle key according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sensing means for reading a physical feature of the user, wherein 
 the breath component detection means includes: 
 at least one of an alcohol sensor and a drug sensor; and 
 a control unit for authenticating the user based on sensing data of the sensing means, and for performing at least one of alcohol determination and drug determination to determine whether at least one of alcohol and drug is contained in the breath of the user in accordance with an output signal of the at least one of the alcohol sensor and the drug sensor, wherein 
 the control unit has a function of controlling an on/off operation of one of the drive means and the signal output means, either in a case where the user is not authenticated as a result of the authentication, or in a case where at least one of alcohol and drug is determined to be contained in the breath of the user as a result of the at least one of alcohol determination and drug determination.